Hunga-Ha'apai Volcano: 10% of atmospheric water

In 2022, the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcanic chain erupted in the Pacific Ocean. According to researchers, seismic activity increased the water vapor content in the stratosphere by 10%. This led to a decrease in the average atmospheric temperature in the area around the volcano. Scientists believe that the influx of vapor altered local weather conditions and contributed to short-term cooling. The example shows how geological processes can affect climatic parameters.

The Hunga-Ha'apai volcano is located in the southern sector of the Pacific Ring of Fire, where eruptions regularly occur, contributing to both geological and climatic processes.

Context

Volcanoes of the Pacific Ring of Fire often erupt, injecting a significant amount of vapors and aerosols into the upper atmosphere.